September 30, 2011

Donald L. Meyer Named Alumnus of the Year

Wheaton College trustee emeritus Donald L. Meyer, of Hamburg, New York, will be presented the 2011 Alumnus of the Year for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award by the Wheaton College Alumni Association during Homecoming Weekend, October 7 and 8.

Meyer, who graduated from Wheaton in 1957, was elected to the Wheaton College Board of Trustees in 1987 and served for 23 years. Don is past owner and president of the Baillie Lumber Company (BLCO) of Hamburg, NY, the largest hardwood lumber company in the United States, with markets in more than 75 countries.

Meyer is past director of the Hardwood Lumber Association; a member of the Hardwood Trade Council; the Young Life National Board and Buffalo committee; a director of Patkai Christian College in Nagaland, India; and on the boards of Jericho Road Ministries, Buffalo, NY, and Generous Giving.

As a member of Wheaton’s Board of Trustees, Meyer provided leadership to the recent Promise of Wheaton Campaign, which raised more than $260 million to enhance College programs and facilities. He also served as co-chair of the presidential selection committee, which oversaw the process of selecting President Dr. Philip Ryken ’88.

“Don Meyer is a dedicated servant of Jesus Christ and a faithful friend to Wheaton College,” Ryken says. “His exceptional leadership of the Board’s Advancement Committee has helped to secure millions of dollars in student aid and to fund buildings and programs across campus. More importantly, his humility, wisdom, and absolute confidence in God’s care has helped set the spiritual tone for the Wheaton College Trustees.”

“Don is the most effortlessly generous giver I’ve ever known—and I’ve met a lot of generous people in my life,” says Vice President of Advancement Dr. Mark Dillon. “You are just as likely to find Don rehabbing houses for the poor in Buffalo as speaking to a group of potential Wheaton donors. Many future generations of Wheaton students, staff and faculty will, knowingly or not, thank God for him.”

Meyer and his wife, Doris (Maurer) ’57, are active in the leadership of Hamburg Wesleyan Church in Hamburg, NY. All three of the Meyer children earned undergraduate degrees at Wheaton College: Jeffrey ’82, Jill ’85, and Joelle Meyer Herskind ’91. Jeff currently serves on Wheaton’s Board of Trustees.

The Wheaton College Alumni Association is pleased to honor Mr. Don Meyer for his longtime generosity to Wheaton through time, talent, and treasure.